Mubarak: Democratic reforms will continue

CAIRO -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak told parliament yesterday he plans to continue democratic reforms and hopes to work with ruling party members and the opposition.

''These elections confirmed that we are moving forward on the path of democracy and reform with determination," the 77-year-old president told the packed 454-seat Parliament during a live televised address.

''There is no going back," he said. ''I'm looking forward to working with you, majority and opposition, during the coming stage."

The address was Mubarak's first to parliament since violence-marred elections in which the country's main Islamic group, the banned Muslim Brotherhood, dramatically expanded its number of seats in parliament.

Police blocked many polling stations and prevented people from voting freely during the monthlong vote. Authorities say the security measures were taken to enable Egyptians to vote in an orderly manner. But government opponents and election monitors said the moves were made to keep the Brotherhood from further gains.

The United States and other countries have been critical of the conduct of the elections, in which at least 14 people were killed and scores more injured. Mubarak has called for a review of the polling, which ended earlier this month.

Mubarak, in his address, said the country would not turn back from democratic reform, but he offered few specifics.

About 50 people demonstrated in downtown Cairo as he spoke, some holding banners or portraits of Mubarak, his son Gamal and his key ministers that read: ''All are thieves, thugs and criminals as well."

The protesters were surrounded by hundreds of antiriot police.

Some critics have accused Mubarak of undertaking only token reforms and not fundamentally opening Egypt's political system.

Mubarak, who has been in power since 1981, faced presidential challengers for the first time earlier this year, after a constitutional change that allowed opposition. But he won reelection easily in the September voting.

His party won 311 seats in the parliament.